Life of the Party

1. Stranger In the Woods by Anni Taylor 2. Ender's Game Alive by Orson Scott Card 3. An Arrangement of Sorts by Rebecca Connolly 4. You Loved Me Once by Corinne Michaels  5. The CompleteChronicles of Corin by A Fol. (6 Books in Total)       Let's start the New Year off with a new list of books! And of course, I will also be reading books in between these as well. I usually keep up with my book clubs selection, along with my own personal reading.

        As 2025 comes to a close, I want to reflect on everything that this year has brought. It is brought, both good and bad aspects. I'm still growing and learning as a parent. This year brought on the terrible two face that everyone has so desperately warned me about. Man, has it been a wild ride. I think having children also causes stress on marriages, finances, and sanity. I was blessed enough to have a support system here to guide the way.     I want to say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026 on a positive note. I look forward into diving into my health journey along with exploring new adventures with my toddler. I look forward to watching her grow and obtain new vocabulary. 2026 brings on a new reading list, new traveling, new  experiences, and a second chance to get back on track with my weight loss journey.        I was reading some of my friends post and comments on social media when I realized that I didn't quite read as m...

      As you can see, my progress is up and down in a little bit of everywhere. I have really tried to step up my game. Maybe I should work on my weekly average rather than my day-to-day average. I know the two come together. I just feel like a day-to-day check-in would be better for me mentally.     With the holidays, I did gain 2.3 pounds. I am not proud of that. It's actually eating at me to the point. I have somewhat become angry at myself. Being at home makes it twice as hard to really be mobile. Anytime I get up my toddler is constantly in my face wanting me to pick her up. There are no excuses though. I should've done a better job regulating my food intake. But small starts count too!     The fact that I'm tracking my daily step count is progress. It might not be perfection, but it is a start. Our current cold weather has kind of trapped me in the house as well. The windchill was so cold today that my face went numb while I was feeding all ...

      There are no words...  I was a foster parent and posers like this give the entire system a bad image. I wonder if they changed the names of anyone. This poor child went through so much in such a short time. The gross mistreatment of this child is beyond what I can put into words. The title itself really says it all she kept thinking everything would happen soon.     My time is a foster parent was horrific with the emotional roller coasters that my kids would go through and put me through. I wonder if any of those kids had come from situations like this? We never know what anyone else is going through. The Moss's deserved a harsher punishment than what they received. I do hope that the author did use their actual names. People need to hear it, read it, and learn from it. These people do not need children in their lives.     I grew up in a tough situation myself, but I could not imagine having to house hop for years only to learn that my paren...

      Taking break in between each book of this series is needed. The story is just that good. Sounding overly enthusiastic seems some what fan girlish, but man.... Armentrout knows how to write a story! The way each book is written from a different character's perspective, only adds to the overall flare of the style writing. Next character along is steam worthy girl, this series is for you.     Stephanie's character is some more annoying based upon her pierces opinions and reflection of her traits, but to hear the story being told through Stephanie's point of view has really opened me up to liking her roll in the whole plot. She just isn't some door knob that everyone takes a turn on. She actually has a very deep dark pass that she keeps hidden from the other characters. I'm glad Armentrout took the time to fully elaborate with Stephanie's overall character. However, Nick, is a completely different story. I think every woman longs for a partner who truly worshi...

      We still have no baby goats as of 9 o'clock. The countdown still continues as I closely monitor all my does. Today has been a very eventful, exciting, memorable day. My child didn't have many gifts, but she did have quality gifts. The sheer excitement in her face was worth every penny. It's not about how much money you spend on your children or how many gifts they have under the tree. It's all about quality family time and celebrating another holiday together.     This Christmas was a little bit different this year. I was disappointed that my grandmother refused to come and join us and chose to spend Christmas by herself. I know it must've been lonely up on the hill. As she continues to push us all away, I hope she realizes that we do love her and we want her around. One thing I've noticed that really has been an issue for me..... is her distancing herself from us. She has no one other than my mom and myself.     MY BEST FRIEND, AND SISTER COME T...

      I think I will make weekly post in order to keep up some accountability on my side. The goal was to slowly progress, my steps per day. I have been steadily climbing each day. Today, however, I just feel like I didn't do enough. I think I may be catching the flu, but that's not an excuse!  I will try to weigh in eventually. I don't have a scale here at the house.

      Sometimes you just have to make plans at home. I looked every the past several days for a cheese ball that was premade. Ingles normally has them back in the deli section. Apparently it must be a favorite this time of year and they cannot keep it in stock. So, unfortunately, I made one using a recipe that my grandmother gave me years ago.     It's the day before Christmas and sometimes she just have to have seasonal food. We made sweet treats today along with my massive cheese ball. I was beyond pleased with how it turned out. My husband is allergic to onions so leaving out the chives did change the taste overall.      The weather has warmed up quite significantly and the Christmas vibe just isn't here. Once I put my child to bed, I spent time staging presents and moving furniture to fit everything in the living room. She is gonna have a fantastic Christmas tomorrow as we age Christmas just becomes another day, but when you have children and ...

      I know one day I will look back on this moment, and I will completely laugh until I cry. I started noticing these small field mice going in and out from under our house. I think mice are disgusting. I placed out several different bait piles under the house full of rat poisoning.    Girl, evidently I had a whole colony under the house. I cannot get to all their dead carcasses so we are having to deal with the horrendous smell.      My house smells absolutely nasty at the moment. The dead rat smell is so not in season. Although, I do not like mice living amongst me, next time I will try to use a different deterrent. I wonder what's attracting them to our home at the moment anyway? We have never had this issue like this in the past. Is there something I need to know?      I was walking out to the car this afternoon and saw a small one who seemed somewhat drunk. The lethargic mouse died instantly when I put the bucket over top of ...

      Did someone say... anniversary? Yes, it's my wedding anniversary today, but we didn't get a chance to celebrate. Work is a necessity because it provides money for my family. Unfortunately, my husband had to work, so I only got to spend around three hours with him today.     Today, I personally celebrate years of working to stay married. It's not an easy task and we have to work at it constantly. I celebrate our small family we have created and maintained. We've had as many low points as high ones. We've battled sickness and  constant stress, new jobs, loss, and heartbreaks. We are NOT perfect, but we work. It's not always fun.      Anniversaries are significant because it's an additional year that you decided to choose each other. Today's society doesn't always value marriage or so it seems. Most people actively choose to use divorce as a bandaid to a failed union instead of trying to fix their problems.  Don't come at me for that ...

      I've slowly been trying to get back down to my weight before I had Taylor. And I know it's been over two years but I really need to focus on myself. I've always been on the heavier side, and it absolutely kills me. I want to be able to run and play with Taylor as she continues to progress in age, but if I don't start taking care of myself and losing weight, I will not be able to do that.     I know all too well what it's like to have a parent who is a couch potato. Do you have a parent that never feels like playing with you or going outside. My childhood was spent in solitude for the most part. I had a parent that was deep in addiction and I was the last priority. I did a lot of reading and a lot of artwork. I want to be outgoing and doing stuff with my kid for as long as possible.     Progress is progress. I have started to take in more water and make sure that I'm slowly gaining on my step count each day. This seems like a small ordeal, but eve...

      Oh the count down begins! It's the week before Christmas and my house is a disaster area. We are on a count down for Christmas AND...... kids! Any day now my goats will be having their babies. It's a very busy time of the year for us. This year is no exception! We have 10 does heavily bred and ready to drop. I will post pictures as they arrive.      What Christmas feast will we be having? Ham of course. I'm so looking forward to cooking our delicious meal! The prep works takes forever, but its worth its weight in gold. Even the dogs get to join in too. I mix the broth in with their food and give them left overs (only meats without bones). Ten years from now I hope I'm still doing the same thing. Here's our meal: -Green Beans (From my garden) -Ham  -Dressing  -Corn  - Mac and Cheese     Today we will be prepping all the housing for our animals with new bedding and providing some extra vitamins for the goats. If I can talk my hu...

      Call me emotionally ill-equipped, but this book made me tear up on more than one occasion. I cried on my way to work this morning as I was wrapping this book up. The message was powerful and clear. Sometimes people have to find their voice in order to speak up. As a parent, I wanted to reach in and save Nessa and Carey. Their mom deserves any and every punishment she receives one the authorities find her. How could a parent possibly put their kids through these horrific moments. Addiction is NOT an excuse. This book is a fictional piece of literature, but it follows a similar real life case that happened in Alabama years ago.      The narration was on point using a vernacular dialect that fit the characters placement and situation in Tennessee. Heartbreak was throughout the entire book. I was on edge! Carey's bravery was beyond powerful. This is a must read or listen if you can get through everything this young lady had to endure.      ...

      With everything hitting so close and ending up in utter failure, I've still gotta be thankful. And I know that sentence wasn't grammatically correct but it's exactly how I say it. You gotta be thankful for all the bad because usually it does lead to something good.     A lot of our money has been going toward keeping the house warm and replacing heating systems. But didn't return there's always a positive side too. At least when the system is completely replaced, we will have a few years hopefully over five with no worry. Electric key isn't necessarily the best option, but with affordability it is the best option for us at the moment. When we burn wood, my lungs act up and so does my asthma. So today I'm thankful for living in a small town where I know the people who will come in and out of my house to replace our heating system. I'm thankful to be on a first basis with a company owner who willingly comes to my house to help us.     I'm thankfu...

      Here we go again! Yes, I'm thrilled to be reviewing  yet another Christmas themed short book early in the AM. The title doesn't really come to play until the end of the book. It was clever! I was overly excited with the Hallmark cliché.  Please tell me this is one of their movies.     The main character didn't actually hate anything about Christmas, so that was different too! Note to self: DON'T send naughty presents to my supervisor by accident, but hand over the gift. Also, I wish there was a real business that sold all their food in the form of a ball. My juvenile humor would completely crack up. It would be a must go to spot for any and all of my shy family members.           I just love that the male led was solely raised by strong female characters. It was a little bit of like a cherry on top! Ladies this is your HOLIDAY must read! I would rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Once again these short books just s...

      Let's have some real talk! If you were going to fail, you need to fail successfully in life. You need to fail so flawlessly that when you remember years from now, this traumatic event that you will have absolutely no regrets. Today I'm gonna talk to you about failing successfully at being beholding to society's expectation of motherhood.     My child comes first no matter what. I will fail to be a good friend if it means my child comes first. And I mean first before my job, my husband, and even my own well-being. I will push everything aside as long as my child is safe. It is my responsibility to make sure she has the best childhood possible. And I have at times failed successfully at being a friend. I used to go out and have fun and go on girl nights but once I became a mother, my child came first. I will not apologize that failing to be a good friend, because my child is all that matters to me. In no way does this mean that I cannot have friends. It mean...

      With the Arctic blast currently hitting my area of the mountains, I have found myself new struggles that I have to face in the coming days. Even though I left the water dripping from our tap, the water decided to freeze in our pipes. Now, I have to dip water from a bra creek and carry it by bucket to the house to flush the toilets.      Not only is that a main problem for me, but keeping our house toasty and warm for my toddler seems to be an endless task as well. Our central air and heating unit went out which was over $5000 to replace. Even with a new unit, we are still having to rely partially on our gas logs for heat. Being set back financially with this burden right before Christmas is completely traumatizing for me. I haven't even went shopping yet. With little to no money I fear that my child will not have an adequate Christmas. Thankfully, she is still a toddler I will not be able to really see my shortcomings and lack of gifts this year. Bein...

      Another rather short book, but well worth your time. It seems like a Hallmark short story that has everything from rogue cats to second chance love. Girls, we finally found books that call to our romantic love side that stays hidden behind our mom face.     Kitty's anxiety ridden character was beyond endearing, and well worth the listen and read. Her pants, dramatic pass, and current situation adds to the humor of this book. We've all been there in moments of extreme awkwardness. Will she get through this holiday season or will everything collapse?     Ending on the perfect note of proposing this book has it all. I would gladly write Slade's book a five out of five stars. My only regret is that the book is way too short. I listen to most books on audible with the rate of 2.0. This book was finished in less than two hours, so there is plenty of room for more story to be added into the plot. 

    Short, sweet, and simple! I literally finished this book in one day. The three hour listen was no match for my long morning commute. I needed this during the Christmas holiday. Happy endings are what is needed in the coming days.      Sophie, the main character is to endearing and her hidden love for her male best friend is all to  familiar to most women. Stepping outside your comfort zone is always a moment of desperation! I was so excited when she finally pours her heart out to Caleb. "You're my other half," is still ringing in my ears.     Ladies, this is the Christmas novel you need. Book store, friendship love, and cooking fudge is just what it needed for a cozy read!     I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. My only complaint was that the book as just too short! It's more of a short story than an actual book. I would recommend reading or listening to this book. No heart break here!   

      This review is in no way bashing this book, but this book was just not my cup of tea. I felt like chapters were disconnected from the previous ones and organizational strategies were done haphazardly. And for some parts of the book, it kind of reads like a textbook. I would not recommend read this book unless you are a history buff.      To be fair, it could've been the narration that ruined the book for me. The lady who starts narrating the first half of the book should be a children's author of happy stories. Her expression during reading each chapter seemed overly joyous and happy when in fact this book is dark and grim. It just seemed inappropriate to use such a chipper voice for such a harrowing tail. The gentleman who finished the second half of the book, the narration was fabulous.     My heart ached for the Osage people as I listened to each chapter. So many people were taking advantage of and never really got justice for what was do...

      Sometimes you just have to wrap it in bacon! This fine piece of pork was spared no flavor tonight supper. Harvested from my best friend small pig farm, I am happy to share with you the results of my bacon wrapped pork roast.     It was a bountiful supper filled with delicious meat, sides, and a few vegetables from my garden that I had to put in the freezer. I know it don't look like much, but to me it means the world. Cooking brings me, solitude and contentment. My mom helped me prepare this meal and I am still learning all of her tips and tricks of cooking.     We also had a few deer Kabasa sausages to the side for additional flavor. That deer was harvested from my property and my husband made it into link sausages. It just feels more wholesome when more than 50% of the meal comes from the land and not a grocery store.     And before you ask, no we do not eat our goats. Or let me correct myself, I don't eat our goats. But if there...

      Sometimes you just gotta break up the monotony and do a project that requires the kids to think outside of the box. We are currently studying the Industrial Revolution in my classroom and my students as always find stuff like this boring. So to make things more exciting and possibly include some kinesthetic activity we conducted a snowflake assembly simulation.     My students had an entire class. Where they learned about what life is like inside the factories. Students also form teams and became their own assembly line, creating snowflakes. We ended the class and a very in-depth discussion about worker, safety, strikes, production, labor, and overall communication during this time. This also fed into my discussion I will have tomorrow about immigration, urbanization, and population trends.     And before you come at me, just so you know, my students have been prepping to do little short activities like this the whole semester. You could not just...

      Yes, before you ask.... I'm wide awake dealing with insomnia along with a stuffy nose. I woke to a room filled with  silence. At first I panicked and then remembered that my husband was keeping Taylor upstairs so I could sleep. Yeah.... that's not happening for me. 

      Something just felt completely off today as I started my long commute to work. I had to pump up two of my tires because the tire pressure had dropped below what was acceptable. My car had less gas in it than what I remember parking it with. My driver seat was also scooted back further than normal. This leads me to believe that one of my family members borrowed my vehicle. I was about 35 minutes into my commute and got a random text message that school was on a two hour delay. We usually get an official call so getting a random text Message seemed odd too. Being 20 minutes or so out from work I continued to go to work.       Once I made it to work, I just kept having a reoccurring feeling that someone else had driven my car. Yes, we have a few surveillance cameras at the house so I decided to do a little bit of digging since I had a whole two hour delay to wait for my students to get to school. I was watching the camera and I realized that someone did ...

      Where has this book series been all these years. I know it's an older book series, but I am completely captivated. What is next?      I was about 30 minutes out from finishing the book and the plot had yet to thicken. I was a little bit apprehensive about finishing the book and they're not being an ultimate tale tale about who was actively stalking Roxy. Like, girl, get a clue about all these suspicious things occurring in your house.     Thankfully, the book ended on a high note and everything was brought to the forefront. Can we take a hot second to talk about Reece? Man, add to cart! Reece is the man, myth, and legend. Dreamy cop with a bad disposition and a love for his woman!      I was in love with this story. I want to know more and dive deeper into their love story. Will she ever go back to college or recover from being attacked by a crazy stalker. Clearly, we can see she got her happy ending, but did Reece?   ...

      I always get a little wound up on Sunday nights, especially if I have work the following day. I feel like I never get everything done. There are so many decisions that come across my plate each day. It's not simply teaching that occurs in the classroom. It's a balancing act most days where we are juggling so many tasks that sometimes we do forget to get something completed.      This is my renewal year, to that added layer stresses me out too. I planned this week out to a T and I'm ready to do some projects with my kiddos, but I'm  still nervous. What if I forget to pick up materials this week? Yes, I did make a check list, but the stress of forgetting a key component is still there. This is our busiest time of year here at the house as well.       Will my goats go into labor while I'm at work? Who will help them if I'm not here? Did we buy up enough hay to last the entire winter or do we need to find an additional source? Wil...

      Where did I see my week going? Apparently, I didn't see myself getting so wrapped up in a book series, but man, this one is worth it. Have I mentioned what a crazy fan of Jennifer Armentrout that I am? This author always goes above and beyond and really captivates her audience. In this last installation of this series, I was completely taken back by the character Camilla, who had grew up in a drug invested home and tried to make something of herself.     Self identifying with a character only makes you want to read more. Jennifer was on point the whole time she was writing this novel. And once again, her lead male character, this time Jaxs, sweeps our main female character off of her feet. Both are not without their own flaws and that's what makes this love story even more special. I really wish there was a fourth book to the series. Oh how I wish to learn more about the Brandon character.           I did listen to this book o...

       The holidays are supposed to be about family, memories, celebration, and renewal. I got the news late last night that one of my previous students child unexpectedly passed away. This child was born two days before Taylor was, and they spent time in the NICU together. I cannot put into words what my thoughts are right now completely.     The first thing I did automatically was run up to Taylor and hug her tight. I could not imagine what it would be like if something suddenly happened to her. If I couldn't see or hear her laugh, could possibly destroy me. I'm not so sure I would make it very long without her. I have already had to endure the loss of one child and I know for a fact that I probably could not mentally get through that again. It's been 2.7 years ago and it still feels like it was yesterday. My former student was my only companion at the hospital during those hard weeks of extended stay right after Taylor was born.  Like my child hers ...

      I got home a little later than expected and that's okay. We spent our afternoon assembling some very rustic ornaments. I'm somewhat embarrassed with the overall outcome, but that is to be expected with a toddler. I'm so embarrassed that I will not be sharing our works of art.....     I'm not a crafty person, so I'm out of my element every time I even attempt anything like this. Getting out of my comfort zone is important to me and it's  important. I want to bring a little Christmas magic to Taylor. She deserves to have all the experiences that are possible. 

           Do you have a free night this week to really read and dive head first into yet another good book? This book is for you ladies! I was beyond pleased that Armentrout decided to write in the point of view of another female in Avery's life. In this book we get to see the world through Teresa's (Tess) eyes and what she has to deal with at college. Tess, Cam's younger sister had a boyfriend who would beat her constantly, and she hid it. Tess injures her ACL and all hope of becoming a professional dancer goes South.      Jayce helps Tess learn to trust again and to feel protected. We all need our own Jayce's in our lives. Jayce has his own baggage and we get to see what it's like to juggle having a child, college, and death of a first love. Seriously, where was I hiding to not know about this book series?  This book has it all: love, betrayal and lust.      I would rate this book a 5 out of 5! I sat and read this ...

      Christmas hasn't always been a time of enjoyment for me. Growing up in poverty did always afford us a happy holiday, especially as a young child. My family tried though and that means a lot. My dad always ended up wasted and ruined any holiday spirit that remotely  existed, so I hated that time of year. Addiction took most of what should have been rememberable.     As a parent, I plan to have a magical Christmas each and every  year! I want Taylor to grow up in a family that truly celebrates and has wholesome traditions. This year we will be decorating cookies and making homemade handprint ornaments. She won't remember it, but she will enjoy the experience.  Our Christmas List: 1. Cookies 2. Homemade Handprint ornaments  3. Christmas Lights 4. Decorating our second tree 5. Wrapping Presents  6. Christmas Pictures  7. Make Birdseed Ornaments for outside 

      I'm not so sure that I live a simple life, but I do know I live a fulfilling one. I love my small farm, small house, small family, and my small rural town. The simple half implies that there's no stress at all or that one could be ultimately stress-free. Honestly, that is a far-fetched idea and no one truly has that. Maybe it's a mindset?     Today the simple life means to me that when I leave work and drive home, I'm happy. I look forward to getting out of my car and hearing my toddler screaming mommy as I walk to pick her up. It's going to feed my goats and having they meet me at the fence ready for your scratches as well as feed. The simple life is walking through the field and having my two geese squall lovingly at me on my way to their small pond. The simple life could also infer that one has all their ducks in a row. I'm not so sure I have that either, but I have a spouse who is there for me no matter What, a job that I truly love, and a happy child....

      This is the book series I have been waiting for. I cannot believe I haven't read this yet. Where have I been hiding? I'm a devout Armentrout fan already, but this series is by far the most captivating. Why wasn't this book made into a movie? Girl, if you haven't read this book series, what is stopping you?     Avery's guarded main character energy kept me on the edge of my seat. I never knew what her next disastrous decision would be. She is/was faced with a terrible situation (rape) as a young teen and the audience gets to see how that shapes her as a young adult even attempting to end her life.      The story is spell binding as it unfolds. Love beyond hate and distrust of the male race. Cams enduring love and support helps guide her into making better decisions and healing from past emotional wounds including confronting her parents for taking a pay off to hide what had happened to her. I cannot wait to read the next installment of this s...